Osteoblastic bone metastases from renal cell carcinoma

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiology
• Pathology

Background:

• Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) comprises 2-3% of all cancers.
• Non-specific symptoms often lead to late-stage diagnosis of RCC.
• Disseminated RCC commonly forms destructive, hypervascular, osteolytic bone metastases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of osteoblastic bone metastases from RCC.
• To review existing literature on osteoblastic metastases secondary to RCC.
• To emphasize the importance of considering RCC in differential diagnoses.

Main Methods:

• Case presentation of a 71-year-old male with disseminated osteoblastic bone metastases.
• Diagnostic workup including imaging and bone biopsy.
• Literature review of reported osteoblastic RCC bone metastases.

Main Results:

• The patient presented with thoracic pain and was diagnosed with predominantly osteoblastic metastases in multiple skeletal sites.
• A small renal tumor was identified as the primary source of the metastases.
• Histopathology confirmed clear cell RCC with sarcomatoid differentiation.

Conclusions:

• Osteoblastic bone metastases from RCC are rare.
• RCC should be considered in the differential diagnosis of osteoblastic metastases, especially when the primary tumor is occult.
• This case underscores the diverse metastatic patterns of RCC.